A small meeting with the Arctic Freshwater Synthesis steering committee and component leadswas held from 11-12 November 2013, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Over approximately the next two years, the World Climate Research Programme’s (WCRP) Climate and the Cryosphere Project (CliC), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), and the Arctic Council’s Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) have decided jointly to promote and support the production of an internationally authored Arctic Freshwater Synthesis (AFS) as a contribution to the 3rd International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP III), the WCRP’s Grand Challenges, and AMAP’s Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic. The overall goal of the AFS is to synthesize our current scientific understanding of Arctic freshwater sources, fluxes, storage and effects, with the project structured around 5 major components: atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial hydrology, terrestrial ecology and resources. Visit the web page at: http://www.climate-cryosphere.org/activities/targeted/afs for outlines of the current goals of the project and a diagram identifying some of the key issues that are likely to be the foci for the 5 components.

TaxiWait for a taxi at the taxi rank sign outside the arrivals hall. Make sure you ask for the price in advance (it should be between SEK 475 and SEK 625 for a trip to central Stockholm). The trip to the hotel will take around 30-40 minutes.

Arlanda ExpressThe Arlanda Express train takes you to Stockholm’s Central Station in 20 minutes. One-way fare SEK 260, return SEK 490. There are departures about every 10 minutes during rush hour. For further information, please see www.arlandaexpress.com The Arlanda Express is signposted from the arrivals hall at Arlanda.

Airport bus

The airport bus departs from outside the arrivals hall every 10 minutes during rush hour. One-way fare SEK 99, return SEK 198. For further information, please see www.flygbussarna.se. The trip to Stockholm by bus takes around 40 minutes.

From Stockholm’s Central Station to Hotel Birger Jarl

You can walk from Stockholm’s Central Station to Hotel Birger Jarl in 15–20 minutes (about 2km), or you can go by taxi or take the metro. There is a taxi rank outside the main entrance of the Central Station, whilst the metro station entrance is on the station's ground floor. Take the green metro line towards Hässelby, get off at the Rådmansgatan station, take the Tegnérgatan exit and walk approximately 200m down Rådmansgatan before turning left onto Tulegatan, where you’ll find Hotel Birger Jarl on the right handside. Metro tickets can be bought in a machine at the barriers (a single will cost SEK 36). A taxi ride will cost approx SEK 140 (see the note on the deregulated taxi market above).

Meeting Venue: Royal Swedish AcademyAdresse: Lilla Frescativägen 4A, 114 18 Stockholm, SverigeThe easiest way to get to the Academy is to take the metro (red line, no. 14) from Tekniska högskolan towards Mörby Centrum. From the hotel, head northwest on Tulegatan, then turn right onto Kungstensgatan. Turn right onto Karlavägen and then left onto Uggelviksgatan. Follow it to the end at Valhallavägen, then walk one block to the right until you can cross to the metro station entrance (signposted with a "T"). Get off at Universitetet. You can find directions for this connection and for other options Google maps. You can also walk to the other station entrance - in that case, just follow Tulegatan to the nortwest, then right onto Odengatan and you will find the station entrance where Odengatan meets Valhallavägen.

For repeated metro journeys, purchasing a 72-hour public transit card (SEK 230) instead of single tickets (SEK 36) can be a convenient option.

13.40-15.30 Integration Think-Tank (led by T. Prowse): interactive discussion of new science directions in each of the Components; key knowledge gaps; potential for generation new knowledge from the AFS.

15.30-15.50 Coffee Break

15.50-18.00 Integration Think-Tank continues; including a discussion of potential synergies with other Organizations programs.

20.00 IASC-sponsored dinner at Tranan Restaurant

TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER

9.00-10.00 Discussions on approach to synthesizing current information, achieving synergies among AFS Components, including need/use of model projection data, or information from other sources/Components/Organizations.